The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-05-16
-. Peters Church.

At the 7 o'clock mass, celebrated b.
Father Ash6eld, o, p, there wer,
about 200 communi cants, including
the members of st. Thomas's Sodality
1t was announced that the Fort!
Hours Devotion to me lesseu oacra
ment would begin with solemn higl
mass on Tuesday morning at o o'clock
This devotion in memory of the forty
hours during which the body of oul
Lord remained ia the stpu,chre, cwes
lis o'igin to Father Joseph, a Oapu.
chin tlar at Milan. In the year 1884
the city was suffering all the mi cries
attendant on war. This holy friar as-
eured the people that il they mani
tested proper devotion to the Blessed
Sacrament Tor forty hours their Coun-
try would be liberated from the deyas.
tatioIs OF their enemies. All the
churches In the city obeytd the call,
and God rewarded their piety by the
speedy return OF peace. The Forty
Hours' Devotion Was introduced into
Rome by 1t. Philip Neri ia 1913, and
sanctioned by Pope Clement VII, who
issued a solemn bull respecting It, on
November 20, 1902. Since then it has
extended throughout the world wher.
ever Catholic altsrB have been erected.
many indulgences may be obtained by
thoee VINO assist at the ceTemoaies
Those who make the required visits
and approach tie eac'aments during
these forty hours obtain plenary in
diligence applicable to the souls In
purHatOry. The 0 O'Clock mass was
celebrated by Father Pendergrast, 0.
z. The high mass at 1890 o'clock
was sung by Father Eie!en, o. p. The
sermon on the epistle of the day was
preached by Father Ashfeld, o. p,
the text being taken from the EpistIe
OF st. James, /, %: "lf any man
think himself TO be Teligious, not
bridling his tongue, but deCeiving his
own heart, this mans religion is vain"
After stating that speech was given
to man by the Creator as an intelligent
being, while inarticulate sound, sufii
Gent only to express their material |
wants, were united to the instinct of |
brutes. Having bestowed the gift and |
seen what use man made Of 1t, Al |
mighty God gave two Of the Ten
Commandments TO control and regu.
late their tongue. This does not seem
strange when We examine the other
commandments, the fourth for in
stance: "Honor thy father and thy
mother that thou mayst be long lived
upon the land which the Lord thy
God will give theP."
In the whole animal kingdom there
s no such ingrstitude toward parents
ss we find in man. II every child
could live the life predestined in the
Mothers heart all the way from the
,radleto the grave their lives would
70 noble and full OF Joy. Yet one of
lies saddest contrasts 10 to think OF a
nan as his mother did, and then,
IS years roll on, to consider
him as he really Is. Az this
commandment OF God lncreasts
he dignity and holy character
II the relation Of parent 80 also the
wo commandments having for their
bjeCt tie government Of the tongue,
how the dignity and ssCredness OF
he gift OF speech. The fret is,
Thou shalt not take the name Of the
ord thy, God in vsinp and the
econd, "rhou shalt not bear false wit
ess against thy neighbour Thus
re see that the law OF charity regu.
ates words as well as actions. Father
Ishheld considered briefly some Of
he sins Of the tongue with special
eference to calumny and detraction.
III an impartial judge WAS
alled upon to determine as to the
Tevalence OF virtue aud vice among
1eu by the standard OF charity shown
0 the reputation of Others, the de-
ision would undoubtedly be very &C.
ere and indiscrminats. 1t would
lot be diff jult to prove that men are
8 much given to gos5iping. mischief
making calumny and detracI IN as the
entler eek. The sins OF the tongue
re generally the last which the truly
eaous Christian is abe 10 conquer.